Hindustan Ambassador, the world's best taxi

Indiaâ€™s virtually indestructible Hindustan Ambassador car has won the crown for the worldâ€™s best taxi at the Beaulieuâ€™s World of Top Gear motorsport show.

In the second instalment of the show, now in its 20th series, Top Gearâ€™s executive director Professor Richard Hammond organised a world taxi shootout to find which car could claim the crown as the worldâ€™s best taxi. And, the winner was Indiaâ€™s Hindustan Ambassador.

Keen students of the car will note that this machine started life in Britain as the Morris Oxford, but, with a quick name change, it went on to become one of Indiaâ€™s most enduring vehicles.

In winning the crown of durability, the Hindustan Ambassador taxi saw off rivals from Britain, America, Germany, South Africa, Mexico and Russia. â€” ANI

Top Gear is more about entertainment and comedy, and less about academic study of cars. So, given the test conditions of a "demolition derby" style race, HM Ambassador is surely the best car. If it came to comfort, style, and statement, the Russian Lincoln Limo would win, with the Mercedes Benz coming second.